Wednesday

Common Ground

Watson’s motivation, in her own words

“The girls and women I meet in places like Moldova are my heroes. I have long since let go of the idea that I am somehow helping them more then they help me. The courage, endurance, and strength I see in them is inspiring! Their stories bring me to tears. Their smiles and hope keep me going. They are my motivation.

I think that we all have the opportunity to make a huge difference in the lives of other people. I have found that many people are willing to help, but they want to be confident that what they do will matter. Over the last decade I have been searching for a way to help as many people as possible, and to make it easy for many people to get involved — no guilt, no donations — and use our consumer culture to make a difference.

I thought if people could make a difference, just by doing what they would do anyway (such as) shopping for clothing, they would. Just think if at your favorite retailer, you had an option to buy a pair of pants made in a factory or one, for the same price and of the same or better quality, that is made sustainably. What would you pick?”